Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-15
Willie. will YOU promise me, once

drink or play a card again, so help
me Godw
"Good boy then kiss the book, "
and she held up her bright red lips.
"And now, Willie, let's get some
sleep, and tomorrow wen attend
to everything. All this finery we've
bought to cut a dash with in Chi
cago we'll either pawn or sell, and
we'll 90 to New York or somewhere,
and you can get something to do, or
l can get an engagement and go
back to the old business"
Soon all was dark and silent in
the room. The man slept, but the
little wife prayed, as well as she
could, tp Him to "give us this day
our daily Greld," and that the hus-
baud whom she loved, and for whom
she was willing to work and save,
might have strength to keep his re
newed pledges.
In the morning Henry, sharp lit
tie business woman that she was,
with a loving kiss hurried Will of
to find some one who would buy
her now useless fineTy, which, with
a sigh, she proceeded TO arrange
She was a woman ; it was a sore
task to part with the pretty dresses
Just bought. AS she was kneeling
at her trunk there came tap upon
the door.
"Come in - she cried.
A man entered; it was Delos
Dodge, professional gambler.
Henry started to her feet and
faced him, looking like a little fury.
Delos Dodge had nothing OF the
reverend character which the title
d. d. that his associates be-
slowed upon him would have indi-
Gated, unless it might be his ap-
pearance. Faultlessly dressed,
with no display of iewelry, a smooth,
pale face, and quiet department that
nothing was ever known to disturb,
white neck. tie, would have trans
formed him, so far as looks went,
into a modern minister Of the Cos
pei. But the spare chin and firm
mouth and the cold, fixed glare Of
his eve showed "old d. D." to be q
man that it would not do to affront (;
a few men risked his anger, and
most of them lived to regret it.
He entered the room ard closed
the door, and then said, most po-
litely:
81 beg your pardon for disturb
ing you, Mrs. Moore, but the ser
want informed me that your hus-
band was here. l wish to see him.
Busy packing to start, / see"
Then Henny-poor Henny-.pour-
ed out upon him, the man who rob-
bed her husband, her heaped'up
wrath:
"Packing to go way, you impu-
dent william You know that we
can't 60 way when you robbed
yes, robbed-my poor Willie, after
making him drunk, of every cent he
had in the wide world. Oh, how
l hate you! And you have the in
science to come, after all, and look
me in the face and ask me about
going way. You'd like to see the
poor boy starve, all of you-tnats
what you want. But III spite you.
III work for him-wOrk for him,
yes, till l drop dead"
Henry stopped 10 take breath,
and then Delos Dodge spoke calm
ly and quietly:
AIRS. Moore, please listen to me
for a few moments. Your husband is
young, and rather foolish and weak,
but l like him, and like and re.
spect you; you are an honest, good
girl. l went to our rooms last night,
and found your husband, decidedly
the worse for liquor, playing with
Mr.. Lawton. Mr.. Moore had lost
all his ready money, and applied
to me to cash his check for a
considerable amount. 1 knew what
would happen, and forced myself
into the game much to the disgust
of the others. In three hours had
your husbands check for g., 800 in
my possession. Here they are"
continued ID. D., producing them
from his vest pocket. 81 came here
this morning, trusting to find Mr..
Moore alone. You will do as well.
What now do with these checks
you will please tell no one; it would
ruin my enviable reputation."-
Delos Dodge, the gambler, gave a
low laugh as he tore the checks in-
to small bits and scattered the
pieces at the feet Of the staring, as.
tOnished little wife.
"Oh, d. D.-Mr. Dodge, mean
how can | thank you n she cried.
"By saying nothing Of this to any
one but your husband. Pack up
now and get him away. from here,
and tell him from me to drop the
drink aud the play; he hasn't the
head for either. And, now, good
by, Mrs. Moore, and a pleasant
journey and good fortune to YOU"
and he held out his hand.
"Please forgive me for what 1
said, won't you ?" she begged.
"Oh, certainly; twas but natur-
al, and did you good. GOod-by,"
and again he held out his hand.
She looked ND at him, II her